Space cooperation received a major push during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Europe, with Sweden officially joining India’s Venus orbiter mission through a new collaboration agreement.
Under the deal, the Swedish Institute of Space Physics will build a scientific instrument called the Venusian Neutrals Analyser (VNA), which will be carried aboard India’s upcoming Venus mission. The instrument will study how solar particles interact with Venus’ atmosphere and outer layers, helping scientists better understand the planet’s space environment.
Sweden’s participation was announced during a joint interaction where Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson highlighted the long-standing partnership between India and Sweden in space research since the 1980s, calling the new mission a continuation of decades of trust and cooperation.
At the same time, the Norwegian Space Agency also signed an MoU with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), marking another step forward in strengthening bilateral space ties. Prime Minister Modi said the agreement would deepen scientific collaboration and support research on climate change, fragile ecosystems and sustainable development.
India’s Venus mission, also known as Shukrayaan, was approved in 2024 with an estimated cost of Rs 1,236 crore. The spacecraft will be launched using the LVM-3 rocket and is expected to reach Venus in 2028 after a long orbital journey. It will carry 19 scientific payloads from India and international partners.
The mission aims to study Venus’ thick atmosphere, extreme weather patterns, volcanic surface and fast-moving cloud systems, while also exploring whether the planet once had conditions suitable for liquid water before becoming a harsh greenhouse world.
